Ministry of Defense Press and Public Relations Advisor and Ministry Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, spoke at the weekly press briefing.
Zeki Aktürk's statements are as follows:
ELECTRIC CABLE ROUTE BETWEEN GREECE AND Greek Cypriot Administration
In accordance with international law, any cable/pipe laying or scientific research activities to be carried out on our continental shelf must be coordinated in advance with our country, which is a coastal state. Our country will not allow any unauthorized activity on our continental shelf, within the framework of its rights and authorities arising from being a coastal state on the continental shelf, which were shaped by the Maritime Jurisdiction Area Limitation Agreements signed with the TRNC and Libya in the Eastern Mediterranean and declared to the United Nations on March 18, 2020.
MECCA DEFENSE ALLIANCE
Within the scope of the Mecca Defense Alliance, the Chiefs of General Staff of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Turkey held a meeting in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on 25 September 2026. At the meeting, ways to further cooperation between the armed forces of the three countries, increase military coordination and capability integration were discussed, and issues of strengthening deterrence and collective defense were discussed.
MILITARY PASSAGE HELD IN Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus
The military parade held in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus was followed closely. As we have stated before, we emphasize once again that the ongoing armament activities of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and the military cooperation it has developed with third countries negatively affect the delicate balances and environment of trust on the Island. It is clear that the provocative actions carried out by the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and Greece do not contribute to the efforts to establish mutual trust on the Island, but on the contrary, increase the tension and damage the atmosphere of stability.
As the guarantor country, we reiterate that a fair, permanent and sustainable solution on the Island of Cyprus is possible by accepting the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people. Our country will continue to take the necessary measures in cooperation with the TRNC authorities to protect the security, peace and welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people today and in the future, as in the past.
IRAQ BASHIKA-ZILKAN COMPOUND
We welcome the recent steps taken by the Central Iraqi Government to establish state authority in Sinjar. We evaluate that the steps in question will contribute to the normalization of the region and the creation of an environment of security and stability and a terrorist-free zone.
Upon the request of the Iraqi authorities since 2015, it has been decided that the Bashiqa-Zilkan Campus, which has been used by the Turkish Armed Forces within the scope of the fight against the DAESH terrorist organization, will be gradually handed over to the Iraqi authorities in line with the agreed mechanism and timeline, within the framework of the progress made by the Central Iraqi Government's security practices in Sinjar.
Our country stands by our neighbor Iraq today, as it did yesterday, in ensuring the security environment and stability in the region. During the contacts to be held in the coming period, it is planned to take steps that will take the military and security cooperation between Türkiye and Iraq to a much higher level.
Iraqi Armed Forces within the framework of bilateral agreements; We will continue to provide support in the areas of increasing military capacity, sharing experience/expertise in the fight against terrorism, military training, and defense industry cooperation.
C130-J SUPPLY FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM
The agreement for the supply of 12 C-130J aircraft from the United Kingdom was signed between the two countries. In line with the determined schedule, it is aimed to gradually bring the aircraft to our country after the ongoing maintenance activities in the United Kingdom. In this context, the first 2 aircraft are planned to be delivered in December.
On the other hand, the training activities of our staff are also carried out simultaneously. The training of 6 pilots and 6 technicians continues as planned in the USA, and the training of 29 maintenance personnel continues in the UK, according to the determined schedule.
